Who are you trying to help? What issue are you trying to address?

We are seeking to improve general living conditions for a small Roma community in Izvoarele, a small village in Voinesti, Romania. There are 200 families living in the community which has settled over the course of 100 years. The population totals 536 people, 166 of whom are elderly and 190 are children. Those of working age are mostly unskilled and the majority are unemployed. Up until 1989, work was available in a nearby mining institution but since its closure, jobs are scarce. There is great need for the basic necessities of life – food, heating, warm clothing, beds and bedding. The mayor-ship has been able to provide good drinking water from the hills via a public standpoint. There are many large families of 10 or more who live in very small houses, mostly without electricity as they cannot afford to pay the bills.

We would like to help this Roma population to integrate into the wider community and so increase their life outcomes by facilitating improved housing conditions and education whilst helping to meet their most basic needs.
A small building houses a kindergarten where 50% of the attending children will have had nothing to eat before they arrive. The older children attend a nearby school but school abandonment is high.

What is your project and how will it help?

Our aim is to encourage learning – the Kindergarten needs to be not only an educational centre but also an environment that will inspire and appeal to the children. The hope is that parents will be encouraged to bring their children along as opposed to keeping them at home to help with daily tasks.

How can other people partner with you on your project?

Other people can partner with us by helping to provide the resources needed to furnish and equip the kindergarten.

Please detail the resources that you need.

- Large rug, or carpeting/smaller rugs to cover an area of 36 sq m
- Curtains or blinds for 2 windows , 3 sq m each
- 30 age appropriate chairs
- 26 age appropriate desks/tables (or 13 doubles)
- 1 Large table and chair
- Building toys
- Drawing books, notebooks, paper, water paints, pens, pencils, colouring pens, erasers, pencil sharpeners,scissors, coloured papers
- Alphabet and number cards or made from wood
- Large TV set with video or DVD player; non-violent and age appropriate videos/dvd:s
- PC & monitor
- X2 Blackboards; white and coloured chalks
- Waste baskets/bins